Faezeh Ghalichi1, Jamal Ghaemmaghami2, Ayyoub Malek3, Alireza Ostadrahimi4. 1. Nutrition Research Center, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Biochemistry and Diet Therapy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. 2. Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Biochemistry and Diet Therapy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. 3. Clinical Psychiatry Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. 4. Department of Biochemistry and Diet Therapy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Ostadrahimi@tbzmed.ac.ir.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Genetic and environmental factors are both responsible for the etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Although epidemiological studies have been conducted to clarify the association between restriction diets and ASD, the conclusion remains unclear. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of gluten free diet (GFD) on gastrointestinal symptoms and behavioral indices in children with ASD. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 80 children diagnosed with ASD by the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) were assigned into GFD (n=40) and regular diet (RD) (n=40) groups for 6 weeks. At the beginning and end of the intervention, the ROME Ш questionnaire for evaluating gastrointestinal symptoms and Gilliam Autism Rating Scale 2 questionnaire (GARS-2) for assessing psychometric properties were completed. RESULTS: Of the 80 children, 53.9% had gastrointestinal abnormalities. In the GFD group, the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms decreased significantly (P<0.05) after intake of GFD (40.57% vs. 17.10%) but increased insignificantly in the RD group (42.45% vs. 44.05%). GFD intervention resulted in a significant decrease in behavioral disorders (80.03±14.07 vs. 75.82±15.37, P<0.05) but an insignificant increase in the RD group (79.92±15.49 vs. 80.92±16.24). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that GFD may be effective in controlling gastrointestinal symptoms and ASD behaviors.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Genetic and environmental factors are both responsible for the etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Although epidemiological studies have been conducted to clarify the association between restriction diets and ASD, the conclusion remains unclear. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of gluten free diet (GFD) on gastrointestinal symptoms and behavioral indices in children with ASD. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 80 children diagnosed with ASD by the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) were assigned into GFD (n=40) and regular diet (RD) (n=40) groups for 6 weeks. At the beginning and end of the intervention, the ROME Ш questionnaire for evaluating gastrointestinal symptoms and Gilliam Autism Rating Scale 2 questionnaire (GARS-2) for assessing psychometric properties were completed. RESULTS: Of the 80 children, 53.9% had gastrointestinal abnormalities. In the GFD group, the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms decreased significantly (P<0.05) after intake of GFD (40.57% vs. 17.10%) but increased insignificantly in the RD group (42.45% vs. 44.05%). GFD intervention resulted in a significant decrease in behavioral disorders (80.03±14.07 vs. 75.82±15.37, P<0.05) but an insignificant increase in the RD group (79.92±15.49 vs. 80.92±16.24). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that GFD may be effective in controlling gastrointestinal symptoms and ASD behaviors.
Authors: Nga M Lau; Peter H R Green; Annette K Taylor; Dan Hellberg; Mary Ajamian; Caroline Z Tan; Barry E Kosofsky; Joseph J Higgins; Anjali M Rajadhyaksha; Armin Alaedini Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-06-18 Impact factor: 3.240
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Authors: Pablo José González-Domenech; Francisco Díaz Atienza; Carlos García Pablos; María Luisa Fernández Soto; José María Martínez-Ortega; Luis Gutiérrez-Rojas Journal: J Autism Dev Disord Date: 2020-03